The Defense Department may now officially exclude contractors or subcontractors from receiving information technology contracts based on the risk their supply chain poses to national security systems.

This year is likely to mark a turning point for the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union, with total employment expected to increase by 0.3 percent and value-added by 1 percent as compared to 2012. Preliminary forecasts expect the positive developments further accelerating in 2014. After five years of an uncertain economic environment, 2013 is expected to be the first year since 2008 with a combined increase in aggregated employment and value-added of the EU's SMEs.

Driven by the need to continuously improve the performance of industrial operations, the worldwide market for asset reliability software and services should experience growth that will outpace the automation market as a whole, according to a new ARC Advisory Group study.

Valspar Corporation, a global player in the paint and coatings industry, will provide Valspar Aquaguard waterborne coating for shipping containers manufactured in Maersk Container Industry's operations in Dongguan, China. With this agreement, manufacturing of a significant share of dry goods containers will convert from solvent borne coatings to Valspar Aquaguard waterborne coating.

South Africa-based Barloworld, a distributor of international brands providing integrated rental, fleet management, product support and logistics solutions, is targeting six sectors to boost the growth of its business in the western and eastern portions of the continent, says CEO Clive Thomson.